Picked up a Browning Lever at a local Gun Show on the Weekend.

Bart68

Bart68

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Went to the local gun show this past weekend with my wife, picked up some very cheap 38 special ammo and a 1972 made in Japan Browning lever action BL22.
The blueing is in very nice shape but the front stock has some scratches in it that I will replace or redo I'm not sure yet, depends if I can find a nice replacement for it or not.
But because of the front stock the price was one I couldn't turn down.

I have never had a lever action anything and was just wondering if there was any special maintenance that would need to be done?
 
Browning makes a fine little lever 22 but I like my Marlin and Winchester too. Have done little to no maintenance on any of them and they are always good to go. Considering my single shot lever Martini is 80yrs old and shoots like a hot damn there is much to be said for them. Yeah I love Browning guns. They make nice stuff and the Mirokus are particularly nice.
 
don't it apart unless you like mysteries, and that finish is real hard to get off, it the stock is O.k, I would just try rubbing a bit of Truoil in the marks , unless it is broken
 
Bart68 said:
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I have never had a lever action anything and was just wondering if there was any special maintenance that would need to be done?
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A nice gem to have in any safe!

You may be lucky it's your first lever. The short throw lever rimfires (Marlin 56, Browning, etc) can take a bit of getting used to after a very long throw on a '94. My hand doesn't like changing from one style to another very much...after a few magazines it feel natural enough though.
 
Many years ago i helped a friend take his bl22 apart for cleaning. The extractor spring flew away forever . I made a replacement from a ballpoint pen spring. As far as i know it still works fine after 40 years. Nicely made guns, just pay attention if you strip it down.
 
Bart68 said:
At least its a 22 so it won't break the bank, and it is so much fun, we have a bolt action 22, a semi auto and now my new favorite this lever action.
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Eventually I need to add a lever 22 to the safe. I have a bolt and a semi. I always loved the look of the Henry octagon
 
The only issue with a 22 lever that I have ever had is that they are hard on ammo.

I remember when I bought my 9422, I had to only load 5 at a time because when my dad grabbed it he would shoot till it was empty. I enjoyed that time with him.

I like the BL-22,s lever, Just a flick of the fingers and your loaded again.
Enjoy the Browning they are a lot of fun, I find them more fun than a semi.

David
 
Well it's been over 2 months and a half dozen trips to the range and yup I still like it a lot.
Dare I say it's as much fun to shoot as my hand guns I go to the short range with? Like
257Roberts said these guns are more fun than a semi auto.
 
Bart68 said:
Like 257Roberts said these guns are more fun than a semi auto.
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For sure ! I got a little Henry and my bolts and semi's haven't left the safe since !

Picked up one of those plastic tube magazine speed loaders for it. Great for pounding more ammo through the little bugger !
 
I have a hundred thousand rounds thru my browning .22 lever, mostly shooting gophers. I've had it for 40 years and replaced the firing pin once. Its never once jammed and does't care what ammo I feed it. We used to buy .22, 3 or 4 cases at a time of 5000 rounds when I was a teenager on the farm, it would never last through the summer.

If there is a more reliable .22 rifle, I don't know what it is?
 
fiddler said:
I have a hundred thousand rounds thru my browning .22 lever, mostly shooting gophers. I've had it for 40 years and replaced the firing pin once. Its never once jammed and does't care what ammo I feed it. We used to buy .22, 3 or 4 cases at a time of 5000 rounds when I was a teenager on the farm, it would never last through the summer.

If there is a more reliable .22 rifle, I don't know what it is?
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Here Here!! You use it the way it was meant to be used!!
 
I've had at least 10 of the BL-22s and am currently waiting for CP to deliver the latest, a Micro Midas. I've had a few of them apart for various reasons over the years and as has been pointed out, watch the ejector spring, it's tricky.
Handed 2 down to my daughters, now they are going to my grandchildren.
I've had many different lever 22's over the years and my personal preference is the Browning.
 
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